Hand exerciser



1966 5. H. CARL'SON V 3,265,389

HAND EXERC I S ER Filed July 2, 1963 INVENTOR. EDWARD H. OARLSON UnitedStates Patent 3,265,339 HAND EXERCISER Edward H. Carlson, R0. Box 9084,Memphis, Tenn. Filed July 2, 1963, Ser. No. 292,354 2 Claims. (Cl.27268) This invention relates generally to exercising devices andparticularly to hand exercising devices which are made of resilientmaterial.

This invention is particularly useful for those players who participatein such sports as tennis, archery, baseball, golf, bowling, and othersports wherein a strong, steady grip or sure muscle control is desired.In addition, the present invention has a definite therapeutic value andis particularly useful in restoring muscular action to injured muscles.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a. moldedrubber hand exerciser adapted to be repetitiously squeezed in the handto condition or develop the muscles of the hand and forearm.

A further object is to provide an exerciser that is versatile and thatprovides means for performing a greater number of exercises than washeretofore possible with devices of this general type.

A further object is to provide a device that is particularly useful forconditioning and renovating muscles when recovering from injuries.

A further object is to provide such a device that can be used as atranquilizer, as by squeezing the device to relieve tension.

A further object is to provide a lightweight exerciser that is ofone-piece construction and has no separate parts that have to beadjusted or that will break down.

A further object is to provide a device that will give a naturalcomplete or full grip that engages fingers, thumb and palm.

A further object is to provide a hand exerciser of novel shape andcharacteristics which enable it to be manipulatively held in variouspositions in the hand for exercising the various parts of same.

A further object is to provide a hand exerciser having differentportions of unlike compressibility, thereby causing somewhat sequentialcompressive actions of the device as it is squeezed, with the objectiveresults being that the exerciser is easily kept in a certain position inthe hand as it is repetitiously manipulated.

A further object is to provide a simple and durable exerciser ofrelatively flat shape and one of such compact form as to be handilycarried in the pocket or kept in a convenient place.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction ofhand exercising devices.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the presentinvention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment willbe readily understood from the following specification upon reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the exercising device of the presentinvention as in use, with the device disposed transversely in the handof the user.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view similar to FIG. 1, with the devicedisposed lengthwise in the hand of the user.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational View of a face of either of the oppositelydisposed principal faces of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken as on the line IVIV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken as on the line VV of FIG.3.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a principal face of the alternateembodiment of the present invention.

Patented August 9, 1966 FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken as on theline VIIVII of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicatedby numerals, the preferred embodiment 11 of the present invention, asseen in FIGS. 1-5, comprises a one-piece body 13 molded of rubber or thelike. The construction material is preferably of closed cell foamrubber, although other materials from any of the synthetic rubber-likecompositions may be suitably used. The material, however, should exhibita marked degree of resiliency and should be of such durable materialthat will retain its original shape after prolonged use.

The shape of exercising device 11 is substantially rectangular andsymmetrical when viewed along any of its three major planes or axes, asbest seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Body 13 comprises two oppositely disposedfaces 15 defining the length and width of the device, two oppositelydisposed sides 17 disposed laterally of faces 15, and two ends 19. Theoverall size of the exerciser is such that it can be comfortably held inthe palm of the hand, and the length should be commensurate with thewidth across the palm. It should be thick enough to adequately engagethe fingertips when held as shown in FIG. 1, and this thickness shouldbe sufficient to prevent the device from buckling in the middle whenused as illustrated in this figure. It has been found that relativeproportions of approximately 5, 3 and 1 for the length, width andthickness measurements, respectively, are suitable proportions.

Preferred embodiment 11 comprises a primary portion 21 and two secondaryportions 23. Primary portion 21 is disposed lengthwise in the center ofbody 13 and is substantially square in cross-section, as best seen inFIG. 4. The thickness of primary portion 21 is substantially equal tothe overall thickness of body 13. The oppositely disposed end surfaces25 of primary portion 21 are preferably molded concave to provide fingergripping places. Thus, it will be seen that the overall general shape ofthe exerciser 11, as seen in FIG. 3, is convex along the opposite sidesthereof and concave at the opposite ends thereof.

The two secondary portions 23 of body 13 are integrally formed with andare oppositely disposed from primary portion 21. Each of secondaryportions 23, in the preferred form 11 of the device, includes abridgestructure 29 integrally joined with primary portion 21.. Bridgestructure 29 is substantially of the same thickness as is body 13 and isintegrally connected at the opposite end portions 31 to primary portion21. Each of secondary portions 23 also includes a web 35 interposedlyconnecting primary portion 21 and each of secondary portions 23. Web 35of each of secondary portions 23 is centrally disposed relative to thethickness of body 13 and defines equally proportioned openareas orrecesses 37 in opposite faces 15 of the device. Recesses 37 are thusarranged in oppositely disposed pairs along opposite sides of primaryportion 21.

In using the hand exerciser of the present invention, two generalpositions in the hand are suggested. In a first position, as shown inFIG. 1, the device is held transversely with one of the oppositelydisposed secondary portions 23 engaging the palm and the other secondaryportion 23 engaging the fingertips for finger exercise. The thumb may beplaced along the recessed end surfaces 25 of the device and exercisedsimultaneously with the fingers. The initial effort required to compressthe secondary portions is considerably less than that required tocompress the primary portion because of the diiference in thecross-sectional width of these respective portions. Thus, as the deviceis squeezed in the hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the oppositely disposedsecondary portions compress first, and then with further squeezingaction the relatively solid or primary portion is compressed. Thissequential compressive action of the exerciser is particularly desirablefor it is readily seen that the user need not completely relax his gripon the device but may hold it in his hand under slight pressure andslight compression of the secondary portions and may thereby retain thedevice in a proper position in the hand.

A variation in the above-described exercise may be had by holding thedevice transversely in the palm of the hand with the fingers and thumbenclosing the device with a full grip. Repetitiously squeezing thedevice as it is thus held exercises other muscles of the hand andfingers than those exercised when the device is used as previouslydescribed, and is particularly useful for strengthening the muscles andtendons of the forearm.

Another position for holding the device is shown in FIG. 2. It will seenin this figure that the exerciser is held lengthwise in the hand betweenany finger and the thumb. The exerciser, held and manipulated as shownin FIG. 2, stretches the muscles more than when used in thefirst-described position and serves as an effective means for exercisingthe fingers individually.

' An alternate embodiment 39 of the present invention is shown in FIGS.6 and 7. Embodiment 39 is similar to the preferred embodiment 11, withthe principal difference being in the elongated open areas or apertures41 of this embodiment which are provided in place of the recesses 37 andwebs 35 of preferred embodiment 11. Bridge structure 43 of alternateembodiment 39 correspond to bridge structure 29 of the preferredembodiment 11. Alternate embodiment 3-9 is likewise divided into aprimary portion 45 and oppositely disposed secondary portion 47.

Alternate embodiment 39 functions in a manner similar to that ofpreferred embodiment 11. However, the secondary portions of theembodiment 39 offer less resistance to the inward squeezing forces thanembodiment 11, and embodiment 39 exhibits a more pronounced sequentialcompressive action.

From the foregoing, the advantageous features of the device of thepresent invention may be seen. The sequential compressibility of theexerciser is particularly useful in keeping it in a proper position inthe hand as it is used. Moreover, the exerciser is versatile in that itcan "be used in several positions in the hand. The exerciser is simplyconstructed, compact, and durable, and provides a very effective meansfor strengthening the hands and forearms of a user and is particularlyuseful for those who participate in the many sports wherein the handsare used extensively.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity or understanding, itis to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes andmodifications may be made therein which are within the full intendedscope of this invention as hereinafter claimed:

I claim:

1. A hand exercising device comprising a one-piece body of materialhaving uniform structure and resiliency;

said body having a proportional overall length, width and thickness tothe order of 5, 3 and 1, respectively, with said length beingcommensurate with the width across the palm of the userfa primaryportion extending lengthwise and disposed medially in said body, saidprimary portion being of solid construction and substantially square incross-section, two secondary portions of said body integrally joinedwith and oppositely disposed from said primary portion, each of saidsecondary portions being in the form of a bridge structure andintegrally connected at the opposite ends thereof to said primaryportion, each of said secondary portions being in collateralrelationship with said primary portion and integrally joined therewithby a web medially disposed relative to the thickness of said body, saidweb of each of said secondary portions defining equally proportionalopen areas on opposite sides of each said web, said primary andsecondary portions being of different compressibility whereupon whensaid body is squeezed in the hand of the user said exercising deviceexhibits a sequentially resistant resilient action.

2. A hand exercising device comprising a substantially thin, fiat,elongate, one-piece body formed of material having uniform structure andresiliency and including a medially disposed longitudinally extendingprimary portion and a pair'of elongated secondary portions arrangedrespectively collaterally along directly opposite sides of said primaryportion, each secondary portion including substantially arc-shapedbridge structure includingopposite end portions, said bridge structureof each secondary portion being integrally secured respectively at saidopposite end portions to said primary portion and defining an elongateopen area extending lengthwise in said body and disposed substantiallybetween said primary portion and said bridge structure of each secondaryportion, each said secondary portion including a web portion extendinglengthwise in said body and with said web portion being mediallydisposed relative to the thickness of said body and disposedrespectively between said primary portion and each bridge structure,said web portion of each said secondary portion substantially definingequally proportional elongate recesses extending respectively lengthwisein said body and disposed on opposite sides of each web portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 784,367 3/1905Williams 272-68 3,129,939 4/1964 Stock 272-68 FOREIGN PATENTS 937,6583/1948 France. 128,196 2/ 1920 Great Britain. 731,235 6/1955 GreatBritain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. F. BARRY SHAY, Examiner.

L. I. BOVASSO, Assistant Examiner.

2. A HAND EXERCISING DEVICE COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY THIN, FLAT,ELONGATE, ONE-PIECE BODY FORMED OF MATERIAL HAVING UNIFORM STRUCTURE ANDRESILIENCY AND INCLUDING A MEDIALLY DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDINGPRIMARY PORTION AND A PAIR OF ELONGATED SECONDARY PORTIONS ARRANGEDRESPECTIVELY COLLATERALLY ALONG DIRECTLY OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PRIMARYPORTION, EACH SECONDARY PORTION INCLUDING SUBSTANTIALLY ARC-SHAPEDBRIDGE STRUCTUE INCLUDING OPPOSITE END PORTIONS, SAID BRIDGE STRUCTUREOF EACH SECONDARY PORTION BEING INTEGRALLY SECURED RESPECTIVELY AT SAIDOPPOSITE END PORTIONS TO SAID PRIMARY PORTION AND DEFINING AN ELONGATEOPEN AREA EXTENDING LENGTHWISE IN SAID BODY AND DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLYBETWEEN SAID PRIMARY PORTION AND SAID BRIDGE STRUCTURE OF EACH SECONDARYPORTION, EACH SAID SECONDARY PORTION INCLUDING A WEB PORTION EXTENDINGLENGTHWISE IN SAID BODY AND WITH SAID WEB PORTION BEING MEDIALLYDISPOSED RELATIVE TO THE THICKNESS OF SAID BODY AND DISPOSEDRESPECTIVELY BETWEEN SAID PRIMARY PORTION AND EACH BRIDGE STRUCTURE,SAID WEB PORTION OF EACH SAID SECONDARY PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY DEFININGEQUALLY PROPORTIONAL ELONGATE RECESSES EXTENDING RESPECTIVELY LENGTHWISEIN SAID BODY AND DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF EACH WEB PORTION.